The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has uncovered 41 properties worth N212.8 billion allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, SAN, Abubakar Malami.
This is just
as the Federal Government has slammed money laundering charges and concealment
of illegal funds against Malami and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before
the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges
stem from allegations of money laundering involving funds of unlawful origin
amounting to more than ₦1.014 billion.
Malami and
his son were charged in a criminal suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, filed by
the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also listed as a co-defendant in the case is
Hajia Bashir Asabe.
According to
the 16 charges, the government accused Malami, his son and others of being
involved in the laundering and concealment of N1,014,848,500.00 (One Billion,
Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira)
allegedly traced to a Sterling Bank Plc account (No. 0079182387).
The prosecution alleged that the huge sum, domiciled in the said account, was of unlawful origin, and that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds represented proceeds of illegal activities.
In the 16
charges, the federal government alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025,
within Abuja and the jurisdiction of the court, the defendants procured
Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the money.
The charge
alleges, in part, that the defendants used the company as a front to conceal
the origin and movement of the funds, an act the government says constitutes
money laundering under Nigerian law.
The alleged
offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of
the same Act.
The 16
charges were revealing of how Malami engaged Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to
launder funds.
The charges
are as follows:
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between July 2022 and June,
2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure
Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum
of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty
Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No.
0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed
proceeds of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence contrary
to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022
and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, and
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between September 2020 and February, 2021in Abuja
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure Metropolitan Auto
Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N600,013,460.4
in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have
known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activitiesand you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering
Prohibition Act 2011 as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under
section 15(3) of the same Act
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami sometime in March, 2021 in Abuja within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the total sum of
N600,000,000.00 in Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited as cash collateral for a loan
of N500,000,000.00 granted to RAYHAAN HOTELS LTD by Sterling Bank Plc when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said cash collateral of N600,000,000.00
was proceed of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as
amendedpunishable under section 15(3) of the same Act
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation,
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya
Properties Limited sometime in November, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court did indirectly disguise the unlawful origin of the
aggregate sum of N500,000,000.00 paid to Efab Properties Ltd paid for purchase
of property known as luxury duplex at Amazon street, Plot No. 3011 within
Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN
when you reasonably ought to have known that the said N500million formed proceed
of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section
18(2) (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an
employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes in September 2024 in Abuja
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired to disguise the
unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N1,049,173,926.13 paid through the
Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd Jabi savings Account No.
0179011105 between November 2022 and September 2024 and you thereby committed
an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and
Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under Section 18(2) (a) and (3) of the
same Act.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between November 2022 and
October, 2025 indirectly took control of the aggregate sum of N1,362,887,872.96
paid through the savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited in Union Bank Plc
when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed proceeds of
unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
18(2) (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes between
November and December, 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Courtindirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of
N700,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of the property described as No. 3
Onitsha Crescent Area 11, Garki Abuja (Hamonia Hotels Ltd) in favour of
Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum
of N700, 000,000.00 formed proceeds of unlawful activityand you thereby
committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under section
15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation,
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya
Properties Ltd sometimes between September 2020 and December, 2020 in Abuja
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly concealed the
aggregate sum of N850,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of property described as
Plot 683 Jabi District Cadastral Zone B04 (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi) when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N850, 000, 000.00
represented proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 15(2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited on or about
February, 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court
indirectly acquired the property described as No. 3 Rhine Street Maitama, Abuja
(Meethaq Hotels Ltd) for an aggregate sum of N430,000,000.00 when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N430,000,000.00 formed
proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 15(2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.”
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes on or
about February, 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court
indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of
N210,000,000.00 paid for the purchaseof the property described as No. 3130
Cadastral Zone A04 Asokoro District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN
when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N210, 000,
000,000.00 represented proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed
an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of
the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd between March and
June 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly
concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N325,000,000,000.00 paid
for the purchase of property described as No. 1241B Asokoro District Zone (No.
11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent Asokoro) in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N325, 000, 000.00
represented proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money
Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd between November
2015 and January, 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of
N120,000,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of property described as No. 27 Efab
Estate 5th Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami
SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N120, 000, 000.00
represented proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money
Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation,
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya
Properties Ltd sometime in November, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to conceal the unlawful
origin of the funds paid for the purchase of property known as luxury duplex at
Amazon street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Money
Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under Section
18(2) (a) and (3) of the same Act.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, Hajia
Bashir Asabe whilst being an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd and other
persons at large between December, 2016 and April, 2022 in Abuja within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to
indirectly acquire landed properties for Abubakar Malami SAN with proceeds of
unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18
of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 and punishable under Section
15(2) (a) and (3) of the same Act.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, between
June and January, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum
N537,000,000.00 which you paid for the purchase of the properties namely (i)
No. 26 Babbi Street, BUA Estate, Abuja, (ii) 4 bedroom Bungalow, Guesse 2
Brinin- Kebbi and (iii) No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano, Nassarawa GRA, Kano
knowing that the said sum of N537, 000,000.00formed proceeds of unlawful
activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (a) and
punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and
Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you
Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation,
between October 2018 and December, 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court indirectly concealed the aggregate sum N415,000,000.00
which you paid for the purchase of the properties namely (i) No. 28 Bagudu
Kaltio crescent Gwarimpa, Abuja (ii) Plot 13, Ipent 7 Estate Abuja and (iii) A
Plaza, Commercial Toilets, Laundry and Warehouse Tanks Adjacent to Brinin Kebbi
Market (iv) 100 hectares of land Along Brinin Kebbi, Jeba Road (v) Plot 157
Lamido Crescent, Nassarawa Road GRA, Kano knowing that the said sum of
N415,000,000.00 formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed
an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of
the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended.”
Abubakar
Malami, SAN, served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from
2015 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a
period marked by repeated allegations of corruption and abuse of office, which
he consistently denied while in office.
It would be
recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had granted an interim
bail to Malami in his ongoing legal battle with the EFCC.
The ruling
was delivered by Justice Bello Kawu, who ordered that Malami be released on the
same bail conditions earlier considered by the EFCC, pending the hearing and
determination of a substantive motion on notice.
According to
the court order, Malami is required to surrender his passport and perfect bail
bonds executed by two sureties.
The sureties
named are the Director-General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council and a serving
member of the House of Representatives representing the Augie/Argungu Federal
Constituency.
The matter,
filed as Motion No: M/17220/2025, is between the EFCC (Applicant) and Malami,
SAN, alongside Temitope Isaac Adebayo (Respondents).
In granting
the application, the court noted that it had carefully reviewed the motion
ex-parte, supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit sworn to by Muhsin Malami, as
well as a written address filed in compliance with the rules of court.
Counsel for
the applicant, M. E. Sheriff, Esq., urged the court to exercise its discretion
on grounds of exceptional hardship.
Justice Kawu
also ordered the review and reactivation of earlier bail conditions fulfilled
on November 28, 2025, which included the provision of the two sureties and the
surrender of Malami’s travel documents.
Following
the ruling, the case was adjourned to January 5, 2026, for the hearing of the
motion on notice before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Court
No. 2, presided over by Hon. Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji, in Motion No:
FCT/HC/M/16544/2025.
Malami, who
served as Attorney-General throughout the eight-year administration of former
President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing EFCC scrutiny over allegations linked to
his tenure.
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